After teaching and coaching at La Salle Academy for two years he accepted a teaching position in the Worcester Public Schools and an assistant’s job with Coach O’Connor. Coach Kavanagh taught math and coached part-time at Holy Cross for 28 years before accepting the position of Director of Men and Women Track and Cross Country on a full time basis in the summer of 1999.
A Rhode Island native, Kavanagh excelled in track and football at La Salle Academy and later at Boston College from 1965 - 1968.
In track he was a three time New England Champion, twice in the discus and once in the shot put. In each of his last three years he journeyed to the NCAA’s as a hammer thrower finishing second in his senior year. He qualified for the 1968 Olympic Trials and finished 10th with a career best of 199’11”. He was a four time All-American in the hammer and weight throw, a NCAA qualifier in the discus and 3rd place finisher in the East Coast AAU Decathlon Championship.
In football he enjoyed a fine two-year career which led to his being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. A serious ankle injury forced him to leave both Kansas City and later Buffalo.
Coach Kavanagh lives in Shrewsbury, MA where is wife Elizabeth is the librarian
at St. John’s High School. They are the proud parents of three children
Michael, Brian and Jane.
Coach Jim Kavanagh
Email address: jkavanag@holycross.edu
Office Phone: 508-793-2317
Coach Pete Mariani
Personal Information:
Wife - Linda
Step daughter - Lauren
Residence - Wellesley
Coaching Experience:
19 years of coaching experience
3 years Head Coach Westboro HS Girls Track
5 years Assistant Track/XC Coach Bentley College
3 years Head Track/XC Coach Waltham Track Club
2 years Assistant Track Coach Boston Athletic Association
6 years Assistant Track Coach Holy Cross
Coached nationally ranked (top 50) athletes
Coached 2 7000 plus Decathletes
Coached 3 7 foot High jumpers
Coached an All American 800m runner
Coached League & District champions
Coached in international competitions in US, Peurto Rico, Canada
Coached in 2 US Olympic sports festivals
Coached in 6 NCAA Division II championships
Coached in 3 US indoor championships
Coached 2 Crusaders of the Year
Coached Patriot League Champion
Coached Record Holders in 110 Hurdles, 55m Hurdles, Pentathlon and Decathlon
at Holy Cross
Personal Information:
Wife - Mary
Children - Lisa, David, Michael
Hometown - Spencer, MA
Education:
Maynard High School - class of 74
Bentley College
Framingham State - Bachelor's of Arts - class of 81
Coach John Hoogasian
Athletics:
Cross Country
Worcester State - 1968-1971
CPT - 1971
- 5 miles 25:42
- 10 k 33:37
Indoor Track
Worcester State - 1968-1971
CPT - 1970-1971
- Polevault 14'
Outdoor Track
Worcester State - 1968-1971
- Decathlon 5664
- Long Jump 6.25m
- 400 m 52.4
NESCAC Champion 1970-1971 Polevault & Mile Relay
NETAC Polevault champion 1987
1995 World Master's Track & Field Championships - 6th - Decathlon
Athletics:
High School
Class D State champion 880 - '74
Midland League champion 880 - '74
District Class D champion 880 - '74
College
Bentley - 2 year letter winner in X-country & track
most improved in X-country
school record in 1000 and 880
Education:
Worcester State College - Worcester, MA
1971 B.S.Ed - Social Studies
1973 M.Ed - Science
1975 C.A.G.S. - Ed Administration
UConn - Storrs, CT
1986 Ph.D. - Ed Administration
Coaching:
Southbridge HS, Southbridge, MA - Outdoor Track 1972-83
Worcester State College
X-Country Head Coach 1973-90
Indoor/Outdoor Track Head Coach 1984-90
College of the Holy Cross - Asst. Coach 1990-present
New England Chairman USATF Polevault development
Military:
US Army Reserve - rank LT Colonel